Paqueta and Scamacca shine as Hammers come back to beat Fulham

West Ham 3 Fulham 1

Missed this match due to being in Barcelona on a scouting mission to the Sagrada Familia (Gaudi quite possibly based his design on Nigel's lucky banana). Looking at the highlights the Hammers had a dodgy start, with Pereira lashing home after getting behind Kehrer and past Zouma. It was a rasping shot but should Fabianski have done better? It was nearly two when Dan James hit the bar for the away side.

But thankfully at the other end Paqueta is starting to find pockets of space and establish a  partnership with Scamacca. Lucas creates three great chances for the Italian, crossing for Gianluca to force a great save from Leno with a header, playing a through ball which the Italian strokes wide and then creating another headed opportunity as he plays it out from the back for Cresswell to cross to the striker.

The breakthrough comes after Rice feeds Paqueta who finds Cresswell with a great ball out of defence and West Ham won a corner. Despite three warnings from the ref, Pereira takes Dawson out with an American Football-style block to concede a stupid penalty. Bowen does the rest, and don't believe Danny Murphy's one-sided analysis that it shouldn't have been given. It's no coincidence that WHU's form has improved at both ends since D'Orson returned.

The second half saw West Ham take the lead as Paqueta dinked the ball through to Scamacca who delicately lobbed the keeper. After a long VAR debate the goal was given as it was inconclusive if the ball had brushed the strikers' fingers as he controlled it. That's Macca's sixth goal of the season and like all quality strikers he keeps going even when he's missed a few.

Cresswell has to block Cairney's goalbound shot but at the death Antonio wraps it up. He uses his strength to get past the Fulham defence then fires straight at Leno, which turns into a one-two off the keeper. Leno and Ream then get in a terrible muddle and Michail keeps calm to sidestep them and place the ball into the net. There's been a handball in the build-up but it was in the first phase of the attack and we'll take whatever VAR luck we can get after the Chelsea debacle, despite Silva's tantrum.

WhatsApp messages from our group reveal that the Eagle has Spitfire in stock but no Basqueland IPA and tapas as yet, while Matt is probably saying how much he loves VAR. That's three wins in a row and three in three for Scamacca. But the biggest plus is that Paqueta is now looking like the playmaker West Ham have needed. For too long we've relied on Rice and Bowen, adding Paqueta and Scamacca to the mix can only help. Irons!